“Have you ever wondered how playing football affects the brain in the long run? A study from the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center has shed new light on this question, revealing that long careers in American football are linked to changes in the brain’s white matter. These changes are associated with cognitive and behavioral issues later in life, independent of the presence of CTE, a condition often highlighted in discussions about the risks of contact sports.
The findings were published in Brain Communications.
The motivation behind this comprehensive study was the growing concern about the long-term impacts of repetitive head impacts experienced by football players. Previous research has established a connection between these impacts and symptomatic concussions, as well as the development of CTE, a progressive brain condition.”